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So my school owns 5 tubas. 3 of which are Accent BBb tubas and the other 2 are Miraphones, but the branding on the tubas are a little weird. Can someone tell me if this is how it should be or if my school bought a fake knockoff of a Miraphone? Picture below ↓ ↓ ↓

Man, I haven't seen Loyal Tubist around here in ages!

Mirafone or Miraphone makes no difference whatsoever. The alternate name was created to skirt some licensing issues. The horns are all German.

Would that be a Mira-phony?

by TubaTinker » Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:49 am

Mirafone or Miraphone makes no difference whatsoever. The alternate name was created to skirt some licensing issues. The horns are all German

Yep, same difference!

When Miraphone, a german company, decided to import musical instruments, they found another company was selling some sort of stereo equipment by the same name. To avoid copyright problems, they sold horns under the name Mirafone. My 'Fone dates back to 1952, essentially identical to a 184 S-linkage of more recent vintage, though with brass slides instead of nickel. Either the electronics company folded or reached an agreement, but at some time was sold under the 'Phone name. I know they are same company and same horn.

I have heard the old 'Fones that made it to America were high-end horns made with special care, checked and prepped, and often sold to pros. As times passed the markets changed. New horns were still excellent instruments, but 'Phones were often sold to colleges, high schools, and students.

All I can say is I like mine.

John Thompsn

Ken Herrick wrote:

by TubaTinker » Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:49 am

Mirafone or Miraphone makes no difference whatsoever. The alternate name was created to skirt some licensing issues. The horns are all German

Yep, same difference!

There is no manufacturing quality difference between a "F" and a "PH"... Depending on which horn and what time it was made, there may be design and hardware differences. Miraphone design has not been static. Offhand, I can think of the "S-link" vs. "non-S-link" vs. 'plastic balled link' vs. 'mini ball link' discussion as well as differences in bell diameter, shape and height as changes made over the years.

My 1952 'Fone has S linkage, which seems unchanged for at least 20-25 years. I see two other changes: My horn had old cellulose lacquer, which shed greenish flakes all over me when I played it. I stripped the finish, which doesn't look any better, but at least *I* stay clean. Secondly, the bottom bow came equipped with a two-inch blade -like bumper. I'm tall enough that I rest the horn in my lap, which was painful. I noticed new horns (counting 1967 as 'newer) had no blade, just a small heavy strip across the bottom. AHA!, I noted, and used a Dremel tool to cut the blade into a very similar bottom bow protector. Much better! Maybe the previous owner was shorter, or had iron-tough legs.

John Thompson

I have a 188 from 1995 that has the Mirafone logo, and I emailed Miraphone to verify the manufacturing date. You can just send them your serial number to see when it was made if you want, but some have a set of numbers on the second valve paddle that will tell you the month and year. Usually in the monthyear format, as an example mine says 795.

The notion that there is a real difference between Mirafone and Miraphone instruments is an old myth, but I suspect there are only differences between one old Miraphone (no matter how it's spelled) and another. If you go back far enough, the bows were hand-hammered and that will allow a greater sample variation. That is in addition to modifications to the design over the years.

The serial number on the instrument pictured by the OP is very old, probably 1960's.

The instrument pictured is a real Miraphone, not a fake.

Rick "who has heard it argued that either one is better, depending on what was owned by the arguer" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:Rick "who has heard it argued that either one is better, depending on what was owned by the arguer" Denney

I've heard all kinds of versions about it:
-- They sent the best ones to America, because they were trying to grow the market and wanted to come out strong.
-- They kept the best ones in Germany, and sent the rest to America.
-- They were indiscriminately stamped with "F" or "PH" on the assembly line, based on whatever was ordered.

I believe the last one the most, although I'm sure that especially at that time (and still today, too), the huge majority of CC tubas they make are NOT staying in Germany.